Landmark American conservation success story is taking a tragic turn!
At the time, the estimated wolf population in the region was between 1,700 and 2,000 animals.The death toll does not include wolves killed by government agents and poachers.

Saturday February 2, 2013, 12:16 pm
Now the next time i see that petition to release more wolves into Washington...remind me to tell them to NOT SIGN IT! ... NO MORE WOLVES NEED TO BE RELEASED IN WASHINGTON!

Portland, ORE Feb 01, 2013
The conservation group Oregon Wild is announcing that over 1,000 wolves have been legally killed for sport in the Western United States since they were stripped of federal protections in a 2011 congressional budget deal. At the time, the estimated wolf population in the region was between 1,700 and 2,000 animals.

This grisly milestone was reached with little fanfare sometime in the last 24 hours as state game agencies updated their websites (ID, MT, WY). The death toll does not include wolves killed by government agents and poachers. It does include collared wolves from Yellowstone National Park and two Oregon Wolves.

Wolves were nearly eliminated from the continental United States through a government-sponsored campaign of trapping, hunting, and poisoning. After earning protections under the Endangered Species Act in 1973, American wolves began to make a recovery. That recovery was hastened in 1995 when wolves were reintroduced into Yellowstone National Park and central Idaho.

Widely seen as an icon of freedom, wilderness, and the American West, the recovery of wolves is one of America’s greatest conservation success stories. But in 2011, wolves were unceremoniously stripped of federal protections when congress attached a rider to a must-pass budget bill.

Since that time Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana have instituted recreational hunting and trapping seasons. Wyoming allows an unlimited number of wolves to be killed by nearly any means in the majority of the state.

The aggressive management is validating fears from wildlife advocates and scientists who expressed concern when Idaho passed a law calling for the eradication of wolves by "any means necessary" (link). Science has demonstrated the important and irreplaceable role wolves play on the landscape, and many scientists have warned such aggressive management may push wolves back to the brink.

Wolves remain protected in the majority of the state of Oregon where conservationists are celebrating a recent increase in wolf numbers and a significant decrease in conflict.

In 2012 Oregon's wolf killing program was put on a court-ordered hold. The number of livestock losses blamed on wolves decreased dramatically even as the population of wolves nearly doubled (statement). While two Oregon wolves dispersed into Idaho, both were killed within weeks, demonstrating just how tough it is to be a wolf in that state (statement).

With only 53 known wolves in the entire state of Oregon (many of which are pups less than a year old) and the state no longer able to depend on healthy populations in neighboring states to bolster numbers here, conservationists caution recovery remains tenuous.

Below is a statement of Rob Klavins, Wildlife Advocate for Oregon Wild:

"In 2011 Congress and the Obama administration threw wolves to the Tea Party.

"Americans rightly celebrated the recovery of bald eagles and gray whales when they were removed from the protections of the Endangered Species Act. We didn't immediately resume whaling or hold a hunt aimed at killing half of America's bald eagles. Sadly, states like Idaho and Montana celebrated the de-listing of wolves with a hail of gunfire and trappers snares.

"Americans value native wildlife and it's a shame that one of our greatest conservation success stories is taking a tragic turn. In 2012, while other states showed that killing wolves only feeds conflict, Oregon showed it isn't necessary. It took a judge's order, but with the wolf killing program on hold, responsible ranchers stepped up, recovery got back on track, and conflict went down. That's something good for everyone.

"For some, old prejudices die hard, but Oregon has shown a better path forward. We hope our leaders and other states take notice. It's not often endangered wildlife receive a second - or third - chance."

Saturday February 2, 2013, 12:26 pm
i usually never do this.....but i am in a very bitter mood, so sorry everyone... time is gone, wasted... one year is gone, and so many wolves are gone. I can't believe these losses....crushed and and mine were sacrificed for this wolf hatred... it makes no sense ...none

Saturday February 2, 2013, 12:27 pm
I've been signing so many petitions on wolves for a couple of years now if not longer. When is it all gonna start making a dint of a difference. We need our Eco system left alone.

Saturday February 2, 2013, 3:50 pm
I think that it doesn't matter whether it is wolf, deer or whatever. These idiot killers just blood killlers, they think makes them big person, look at this----see what I have done-------sob's are going to learn one day---------I wish I could be the person that delivers to them the Karma they deserve but I can assure you Karma will get them one day. I believe that. I am babbling, I know. The picture above makes me so ill and angry, I cannot tell you. Noted/thanks Roxy/

Sunday February 3, 2013, 11:04 am
Thanks for the information Roxy. That picture is so sickening, it breaks my heart we can do nothing to protect them. It's a living nightmare 1000 of our wolves were trapped, poisoned and shot. Heartless bastards.

Sunday February 3, 2013, 1:54 pm
Another murdering bastard who has a bigger D--k than he has got brains Whats wrong with these morons have they nothing better to do in life than kill defenceless animals that dont stand a chance This is not big they are actually cowards its like shooting someone in the back If they class this as a hobby or game they must be sick in the head Ive said it before all hunters should be shot stuffed and stuck up on the wall or leave them in a field and set hungry wolves on them Live by the sword die by the sword hope it happens to these hunters doing this
cant come soon enough for me why does everyone hate wolves so dont understand it Im glad the men i know here would not kill any creature To be a real man is to be kind and have compassion not a sadistic killer

Sunday February 3, 2013, 2:19 pm
Noted,every time i see a picture of a hunter holding a dead animal like the wolf up and a big smile on their face it makes me sick-they are so proud of their trophy animal-they should be ashamed-Roxy thankyou again for all you do and all the information you give us on this sad situation.

Sunday February 3, 2013, 2:31 pm
noted i had been signing also for too long!!!! its very sad, but i think nobody will stop the killing!!!!! any time i see this pictures , i get sick!!!! i can not comprehend!!! thir faces are happy and smiling !!!! this bastards need to die themselfs!!!!!! grazie per il` informazzione!!!!!

Sunday February 3, 2013, 10:31 pm
America's wolves must be put back on the Endangered Species List. They are beautiful and are being senselessly slaughtered. My eleven year old daughter cried all day about this injustice. She loves the beauty and intelligence of the wolf. Please act and stop this slaughter of wolves immediately!
-- Mary of Oklahoma

We have doomed the wolf not for what it is but for what we deliberately and mistakenly perceive it to be: the mythologized epitome of a savage, ruthless killer -- which is, in reality, not more than the reflected image of ourselves. We have made it the scapewolf for our own sins.
-- Farley Mowat, from the preface of the 1993 editon of his book, Never Cry Wolf Montana is a big and beautiful state in the Northern Rocky Mountains of the United States. But during the past two years Montana's politicians have allowed a minority of their more violent and heartless citizens, and like-minded others from outside the state, to persecute and kill over 300 innocent and ecologically vital wolves that lived within the state. In 2011, Montana's own Division of Fish, Wildlife and Parks estimated the total wolf population there to be about 550 wolves.

There is a glimmer of hope, of positive change for wolves in Montana, and for all of us who respect and admire wolves and want them protected. Montana has a new Governor, Steve Bullock, who campaigned with reason and decency. He did not pander to the wolf haters and kept an open door to the many wolf defenders who met him.

Now, Governor Bullock has the opportunity to demonstrate right from the start that he is indeed a man and a leader who respects ecology, healthy ecosystems and the importance of natural predators, including wolves.

The Montana House of Representatives recently passed House Bill 73. This perverted bill is now before the Montana State Senate. It is intended to accelerate the torture and massacre of the remaining wolves in Montana. If passed and signed by Gov. Bullock, it will allow each sport killer to kill more wolves, reduce the cost of out of state licenses to kill wolves, allow sport killers to use electronic calls of wolf pups in distress to attract concerned wolves, allow killing of wolves on the perimeter of Yellowstone National Park with no buffer zone and on and on. The devil himself could have written this bill.

The facts speak for themselves:
There are approximately 2,500,000 cattle in Montana. In 2011, just 74 cattle were confirmed to be taken by wolves. 74 out of 2,500,000. That tiny tiny number is statistically zero. But, pathetic cattlemen continue to spread hysterical lies about wolves killing their non-native cattle in numbers too numerous to count. These same cattlemen rely on the ignorance and apathy of the general public, so they can continue their demonization and slaughter of America's native wolves and coyotes and mountain lions and bison and wild horses and prairie dogs and anything else that moves.

As for elk, the principle prey of wolves in the Rockies, Montana had 90,000 elk before wolves returned to their native homeland in Montana. Today with wolves back on the land, the state of Montana estimates the current elk population at 140,000. More wolves equals more elk and the elk are much healthier now that wolves are keeping them on their toes, just as nature intended.

Wolves are vital, innocent, highly social, intelligent and family-oriented beings. It is humans that are the mass killers of wolves and every other animal they can shoot, trap, poison and destroy. It is ignorant and violent humans who must be managed and restrained, and who must finally learn to live on this Earth respectfully and with compassion for non-human beings who have as much right as humans to live and prosper across the planet we share.
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This week's WOLF DEFENDER ACTION is to contact Montana's new Governor, Steve Bullock. Please be respectful and polite. Gov. Bullock is brand new to his position and has taken no action to hurt wolves.

Ask Governor Bullock to put an end to the persecution and massacre of wolves in Montana. Ask him to veto Montana House Bill 73. Ask the governor to be the first governor in the Rocky Mountains to show compassion, decency and respect for living wolves, in Montana and throughout the Rockies. Ask Gov. Bullock to acknowledge the indispensable and positive role, wolves and every other natural predator performs in every healthy ecosystem. Ask him to protect America's wolves.

Here are three ways to contact Governor Steve Bullock:
(Please be polite and respectful and consider doing all three. I was told he reads letters that are mailed to him directly.)

Monday February 4, 2013, 12:22 am
I have a serious problem with that sign on petition, it has been allowed to be passed on so many times and many many signatures have been allowed to be added upon it multiple times. It will be opposed and tossed off as soon as it is presented, the lawmakers will see multiple names on it and immediately oppose that petition. It should have been better handled. I noticed that when i seen more then 3 or 4 people had it shown up on face book at the same time and i actually had signed it more then once, I removed my second signature, and then called it to attention to and ever since then i was not able to post anything on the blog it is posted on. I felt very hurt because i was an advocate and held pride for being a wolf advocate that owned and raised wolves and i am very emotional, but its because i really care and i really feel for them.

Thursday February 7, 2013, 9:04 am
It appears that many petition sites either have or have not protection against multiple signings.
I don't know the technology, try to do this fast, and may have been a problem by accidentally signing more than once.